Roger Federer, Juan Martin del Potro to test injuries on Stuttgart grass

Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro

Stuttgart (Germany): Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro will test injuries as the Wimbledon run-up period begins today at the Stuttgart Open grass event.

Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro

The former clay week switched surfaces a year ago in an edition won by Rafael Nadal. Though the Spaniard is out of action with a wrist injury and was not entered, his absence will be more than made up by the arrival of Federer.

The 34-year-old Swiss was due to practise Sunday on the courts laid a year ago by Wimbledon specialists and given the unofficial seal of approval in 2015 after John McEnroe had a hit on them during dedication ceremonies at the Weissenhof Club. Federer wisely skipped what was the wettest and coldest French Open in decades to let back pain subside, with tournament organisers saying he has trained in Switzerland and is arriving fit.

Del Potro deals with wrist injury
Del Potro won Stuttgart in 2008 - the first of his 18 career trophies - when it was played on clay; he has chosen the venue for his first match in five weeks since losing in the Madrid second round to Jack Sock. The Argentine has been dealing with a wrist injury, playing only 13 matches in 2016. Wild card Del Potro will be tested from the first round by Grigor Dimitrov.